BADGER AND BLOOM is a soft and warm sweater with a classic fit that is worked from the top down. An Italian cast-on is worked at the neck edge, which is followed by a twisted rib edge and a circular yoke worked in a charted stranded pattern. Short rows are worked before the yoke is divided for body and sleeves to create roominess and a good fit across the back.

The stranded pattern is worked from the right side only, so this design is a good project for a knitter without much experience with stranded knitting.

If you would like a slightly less advanced project, the Italian cast-on can be replaced by a regular long-tail cast-on. Just take care not to cast on too tightly. The Italian bind-off can also be replaced by a regular bind-off.

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The sweater can also be knitted for men by knitting the body and sleeves longer. The instructions for the men’s sizes can be found in the separate little sections throughout the pattern. Note that you need more yarn for the men’s sizes than what is listed in the pattern.

Sizes
Sizes: (S) M (L) XL (XXL)
Chest circumference: (105) 110 (115) 120 (125) cm
Length: (60) 61 (62) 63 (64) cm
Sleeve length: (37) 38 (39) 40 (41) cm

For a BADGER AND BLOOM UNISEX with a classic fit, you need approx. 10-15 cm of positive ease, meaning the sweater should be 10-15 cm larger in circumference than your chest circumference.

Personally I like large, roomy sweaters, so for the sweater shown in the photos I have chosen a size that gives me 22 cm of positive ease.

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Men’s sizes: (S) M (L) XL (XXL)
Chest circumference: (105) 110 (115) 120 (125) cm
Length: (64) 68 (72) 76 (76) cm
Sleeve length: (42) 43 (44) 45 (46) cm

Needles
Double-pointed needles: 4,5 mm
Circular needles: 4,5 mm, 5 mm and 6 mm, 40 and 80 cm
Optional: A 4,5 mm straight needle for the Italian cast-on

NOTE: Personally I go up a needles size (+1 mm) when working a stranded knitting pattern to maintain the same gauge as when I work in stockinette stitch. It is different from knitter to knitter whether or not there is a gauge change when knitting with more than one color, so remember that it is a good idea to knit a swatch before beginning the project.

Gauge
16 sts x 25 rows in stockinette stitch on a 5 mm needle = 10 x 10 cm
16 sts x 19 rows in pattern on a 6 mm needle = 10 x 10 cm

Materials
Color A: (250) 250 (300) 350 (350) g Isager Eco Soft in color 0s (54 % alpaca, 44 % organic pima cotton; 125 m/50 g)

Color B: (150) 150 (150) 150 (200) g Isager Eco Soft in color 4s (54 % alpaca, 44 % organic pima cotton; 125 m/50 g)